What's the best food for a mother rat with pups and how to feed them?

Hello. I would put allow enough feed so that most is consumed in a 24 hour period. Leaving more out will just allow for potential contamination with soiled bedding. Rats can eat a wide variety of fruits, veggies & grains. There should be no problem with the macaroni other that too much will cause them to eat less nutritious foods. But a little to gnaw on is fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. The first thing to do is remove or isolate the male rat so he does not harm the pups. Then, just relax & let mum do her thing. She is providing warmth & protection to her young, & as long as she has easy access to food & water, she will nurse them well. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She should be fed extra protein and vitamins (usually found in fresh greens and vegetables). Offer her regular diet and supplement with the other items in a separate bowl. She will eat what she wants when she wants. Rotate through the items so she has a balanced diet. Always keep a commercial hamster diet and fresh water available. She will care for her pups (baby hamsters). They can be fed a commercial hamster diet after weaning at about 3-4 weeks of age.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are correct in planning for the arrival of the pups. I recommend separating the male as soon as you are sure that the female is pregnant, because females can get pregnant again very shortly after giving birth. It is important to keep the pups quiet and calm, to prevent the mother from eating them when stressed. You should also not touch the pups until they are about 14 days old. There are several types of nesting material available in pet stores, or you could use pieces of paperCut up into small strips. The pups should be separated from their mother when they are about 14 to 21 days old. At this point they should be able to eat normal adult mouse food. I hope this helps and I’m happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

You can supplement her commercial pellets or blocks with a small amount of fresh fruit (apple, blueberries, strawberries, etc), some fresh greens and a small amount of vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc). Be sure to remove any uneaten food after 8-10 hours.

Hello. The majority of the diet ( 80% ) should be a rodent chow like Oxbow. The chow should be around 16% protein & 4-5% fat. Fruits & veggies can be offered at about 1 teaspoon per day. You can also offer a reasonable amount of nuts & seeds, also about 1 teaspoon per day. Vary the treats each day & Pika will be a happy, healthy girl. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is important that you do not disturb Snow, as even a small amount of stress can cause her to neglect or even canibalize her pups. If this is her first litter, she may be a little confused and not necessarily know what to do. I recommend moistening her food a little bit with water and placing it closer to the nest, without disturbing it. This will provide her with some extra hydration. This moist food should be changed daily to avoid mold from growing in the cage. The pups should start eating food on their own by the time they are about 3 weeks old, and can be removed from the cage at this time. I hope this helps!